Merchandising structure

ABSTRACT

A merchandising structure having a plurality of packages carried on a spindle for selective removal by a customer. The spindle includes means at the distal end preventing withdrawal of the packages over the distal end. The packages include means preventing simple lateral withdrawal of the package from the spindle so as to avoid pilfering. Means are provided for manually rearranging the package for subsequent lateral withdrawal so that operation of the last named means inhibits pilfering by necessitating an additional readily observable operation.

United States Patent Peschcke-Koedt [451 Apr. 11, 1972 s41 MERCHANDISINGSTRUCTURE 1,117,126 11/1914 [72] Inventor: Andreas D. Peschcke-Koedt,P.O. Box 134, M0056, Wyo. 83012 3 2 5 21 8/l966 [22] Filed: June 25,1970 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. P1 N0 1 491605Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord 521 US. (:1 ..211/57[57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. CL. ..A47! 7/00 A merchandising structure havinga plurality of packages car- [58] Field of Search ..211/57, 59, 100,123, 170, ried on a spindle for selective removal by a customer. The 211/171; 206/78, 80; 248/359, 360; 53/47, 381 spindle includes means atthe distal end preventing withdrawal of the packages over the distalend. The packages include [5 Ref ren e Ci d means preventing simplelateral withdrawal of the package from the spindle so as to avoidpilfering. Means are provided UNITED STATES'PATENTS for manuallyrearranging the package for subsequent lateral withdrawal so thatoperation of the last named means inhibits 2,626,061 l/l953 Girouard..211/59 2,704,599 3/1955 Tuttle ....2ll/57X giggg r lg hy necessltatmgan addlttonal readily observable 328,888 10/1885 Hunt ..206/57 925,5976/ 1909 Reeves ..229/74 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures MERCHANDISINGSTRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates-to merchandising structures and in particular tomerchandising structures comprising packages carried on a spindle forimproved display and selective removal such as by a customer in a retailmerchandising store.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional spindle typepackaging structures, the packages are provided with an aperturepermitting the packages to be spindled in a series whereby a customermay remove the forwardmost package by slipping it off the forward,distal end of the spindle. Such a simple removal of the package admitspilfering as a result of the ease with which the package may be removedand surreptitiously appropriated by a customer.

One solution to this problem has been to provide a locking device at theend of the spindle to preclude simple withdrawal of the package over theend. In one form, the locking device is selectively manipulatablepermitting it to be temporarily rearranged to permit the withdrawal.Such a manipulatable locking means has the serious disadvantage ofrelative complexity, high cost, and possibility of jamming andsubstantial difficulty of withdrawing the package by those not skilledin the manipulation thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improvedmerchandising structure which is adapted to avoid such pilfering byrequiring a plurality of different manipulations of the package suchthat the removal of the package from the spindle may be more readilyobservable. More specifically, the invention comprehends the provisionof a merchandising structure wherein the packages are retained on aspindle having a locking means at the distal end effectively precludingsimple withdrawal of the package means over the distal end.

Removal of the packages is effected by lateral movement of the packagerelative to the spindle such that the spindle effectively moves along aseparation line provided in a connecting portion of the package. Theseparation line, however, is maintained against movement of the spindletherealong by a manually operable means. Thus, in one form of theinvention, the separation line comprises a slit extending from theaperture to one edge of the package connecting portion. The slit ismaintained closed by an element extended across the slit and secured tothe connecting portion. In one form, the element comprises a strip ofmaterial adhesively bonded to the connecting portion. In another form,the element comprises a cord or similar filamentary element extendedacross the strip and secured to the connecting portion. In another form,the maintaining means comprises spaces between a plurality ofperforations arranged in a line extending from the aperture to an edgeof the connecting portion.

Means for manipulating the strip and filamentary means may be providedat one end thereof comprising a fingertip grasping portion permittingthe customer to remove the maintaining element by grasping said portionand pulling the element free of the package connecting portion therebyfreeing the separation line for movement of the spindle therealong.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be ap parent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a merchandising structure embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of a package means thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the package means of FIG. 2with the slit maintaining means partially removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of package meansfor use in the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the maintainingmeans in a partially remove arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a further modified form v ofpackagemeans for use in the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof with the maintainingmeans in a partially removed condition.

DESCRIPTION'OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS is hung from spindle shank 12by movement over distal end 16 with cap 13 removed therefrom. Upondisposition of the package means on the shank portion, cap 13 may beresecured to the distal end 16 to retain the package elements againstwithdrawal over the distal end.

As shown in FIG. 2, package means 17 includes'a productcarrying portion18 and a connecting portion 19 at the upper end of the product-carryingportion. Connecting portion 19 'is provided with an aperture 20 adaptedto freely receive the spindle shank portion 12. Connecting portion 19includes a means defining a separation line 21, illustrativelycomprising a slit, extending from the aperture to an upper edge 22 ofthe package means. Slit 21 is maintained closed against movement of thespindle shank l2 outwardly therethrough by a maintaining means generallydesignated 23. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the maintaining means maycomprise a strip extending across the separation line 21 and adhesivelybonded to the front face 24 of connecting portion 19. The stripillustratively may comprise a strip of plastic tape having an adhesivecoating for self-adherance to the connecting portion 19. A score line 25may be provided in connecting portion 19 at one comer 26 thereof fordefining a fingertip grasping means 27 which, upon separation from theconnecting portion 19, provides means for facilitated removal of thestrip 23 by pulling it from the connecting portion surface 24progressively away from corner 26.

Upon removal of the strip sufficiently to expose separation line 21,spindle shank 12 may now be moved upwardly freely therealong, i.e.through the slit, to permit removal of the selective package fromspindle means 11. As corner 26 of connecting portion 19 remainsadhesively secured to the end of the strip, the users fingers do notcontact the adhesive portion of the strip thereby providing afacilitated clean removal of the maintaining means.

The use of the scored corner structure is exemplary only, it beingunderstood that other forms of fingertip grasping elements may beemployed as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

To provide facilitated removal of package means 17, an indicium arrow 28may be provided on the strip or connecting portion 19, as desired, toguide the customer in removing the maintaining means strip.

The term strip as used herein comprehends any form of element extendableacross the separation line 21 for removably maintaining the separationline or slit closed. Thus, another form of strip is illustrated in FIG.4 to comprise an elongated cord, or similar filamentary element, 29adhesively bonded to the connecting portion 19 to extend acrossseparation line slit 21 in a back-and-forth manner. At one end of thecord, a fingertip grasping element 30 may be provided for facilitatedmanipulation of the cord in removing the same from the connectingportion to thereby release the separation line slit for movement ofspindle shank portion 12 therethrough. Such removal of the cord isillustrated in FIG. 5 as one wherein the cord is pulled forwardly fromthe front surface 24 of the connecting portion to effect the desiredremoval.

Another form of separation line is illustrated in'FIG. 6 to comprise aseries of perforations 31 arranged along a preselected line 32 extendingfrom aperture 20 to a side edge 33 of the connecting portion. The lands34 between the perforations define the maintaining means as theycomprise portions of the structure effectively retaining the separationline defined by perforations 31 against removal of the spindle shanktherealong. To effect such movement of the spindle shank along line 31,the customer must tear connecting portion 19 along line 32 by means ofthe weakened structure afforded by perforations 31, as shown in FIG. 7.Upon effecting a tear along the entire line 32, the separation line isfreed for movement of the shank laterally from aperture 20 therealong.

Thus, in each of the different embodiments of the invention, relativemovement of the spindle shank laterally from the aperture 20 isprevented until such time as the customer conducts a preliminaryoperation to free a maintained separation line extending from theaperture to an edge of the package means. This operation must beeffected in a positive manner so that its execution is readilydiscernible. Such a discernible operation effectively limits facility ofpilfering and the like while yet a customer wishing to obtain a packagedproduct 17 may easily execute the operation and withdrawal of thepackage from the spindle shank, as desired.

The placement of the package means 17 on the spindle shank is readilyeffected by a simple ready removal of cap 13 permitting the packagemeans to be installed in the normal manner over the distal end 16 of thespindle shank. Simple replacement of cap 13 once again restores themerchandising structure to the pilfer-proof arrangement as discussedabove and as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the embodiments functions in agenerally similar manner with different forms of control means formaintaining the withdrawal slit closed against movement of the spindleshank until such time as the customer effects a positive operation ofremoval.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

lclaim:

1. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and control means removably carried by said packagemeans connecting portion for releasably maintaining said separation lineagainst said relative movement of the spindle shank portion therealong,said control means being manually separable from said connecting portionfor releasing said separation line means to permit a subsequent saidrelative movement of the spindle shank portion for removing the packagemeans from the spindle means.

2. The package means of claim 1 wherein said means releasablymaintaining said separation line comprises a strip secured to the saidconnecting portion across said separation line.

3. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the

spindle means shank portion being extended through said aperture forcarrying the package means on the spindle means with the spindle meansenlarged end portion preventing withdrawal of the package means from thespindle means by movement of said connecting portion axially over thespindle end portion; means defining a separation line in said connectingportion extending from one edge thereof to said aperture for permittingmovement of said connecting portion laterally from the spindle shankportion as a result of relative movement of the spindle shank portionfrom said aperture along said separation line; a strip removably securedto said connecting portion across said separation line for releasablymaintaining said separation line against said relative movement of thespindle shank portion therealong requiring a manual release of saidmaintaining means to permit a subsequent said relative movement of thespindle shank portion for removing the package means from the spindlemeans; and means defining a fingertip grasping portion for effecting amanual removal of said strip to free said separation line for saidsubsequent relative movement.

4. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and a tape adhesively secured to said connectingportion across said separation line for releasably maintaining saidseparation line against said relative movement of the spindle shankportion therealong requiring a manual release of said maintaining meansto permit a subsequent said relative movement of the spindle shankportion for removing the package means from the spindle means.

5. For use in a merchandising structure. having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and a flexible filamentary element secured to saidconnecting portion across said separation line for releasablymaintaining said separation line against said relative movement of thespindle shank portion therealong requiring a manual release of saidmaintaining means to permit a subsequent said relative movement of thespindle shank portion for removing the package means from the spindlemeans.

6. The package means of claim 5 further including a fingertip graspingelement secured to one end of said element for effecting a manualremoval of said strip to free said separation line for said subsequentrelative movement.

7. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and means releasably maintaining said separation lineagainst said relative movement of the spindle shank portion therealongrequiring a manual release of said maintaining means to permit asubsequent said relative movement of the spindle shank portion forremoving the package means from the spindle means, said separation linecomprising a plurality of perforations and said means releasablymaintaining said separation line comprising lands extending between saidperforations.

8. The package means of claim 7 wherein said separation line extendsfrom one side edge of said package means, said relative movementcomprising a horizontal movement.

9. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and a strip removably secured to said connectingportion across said separation line for releasably maintaining saidseparation line against said relative movement of the spindle shankportion therealong requiring a manual release of said maintaining meansto permit a subsequent said relative movement of the spindle shankportion for removing the package means from the spindle means, saidconnecting portion further defining a separable portion secured to aportion of said strip spaced from said separation line permitting saidseparable portion to be separated from the package means and be utilizedas a finger-tip grasping portion for effecting manual removal of saidstrip to free said separation line for said subsequent relativemovement.

10. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and a strip removably secured to said connectingportion across said separation line for releasably maintaining saidseparation line against said relative movement of the spindle shankportion therealong requiring a manual release of said maintaining meansto permit a subsequent said relative movement of the spindle shankportion for removing the package means from the spindle means, saidconnecting portion further defining a separable portion secured to acomer portion of said strip spaced from said separation line permittingsaid separable portion to be separated from the package means and beutilized as a fingertip grasping portion for effecting manual removal ofsaid strip to free said separation line for said subsequent relativemovement. I

11. The'package means of clarm 1 wherern said enlarged end portion ofthe spindle means comprises a tip element removably secured to a distalend of said shank means.

12. The package means of claim 1 wherein said separation line extendsvertically upwardly from said aperture.

1. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means providedwith a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture For permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and control means removably carried by said packagemeans connecting portion for releasably maintaining said separation lineagainst said relative movement of the spindle shank portion therealong,said control means being manually separable from said connecting portionfor releasing said separation line means to permit a subsequent saidrelative movement of the spindle shank portion for removing the packagemeans from the spindle means.
 2. The package means of claim 1 whereinsaid means releasably maintaining said separation line comprises a stripsecured to the said connecting portion across said separation line. 3.For use in a merchandising structure having spindle means provided witha shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package means comprising: aproduct-carrying portion; a connecting portion having means defining anaperture, the spindle means shank portion being extended through saidaperture for carrying the package means on the spindle means with thespindle means enlarged end portion preventing withdrawal of the packagemeans from the spindle means by movement of said connecting portionaxially over the spindle end portion; means defining a separation linein said connecting portion extending from one edge thereof to saidaperture for permitting movement of said connecting portion laterallyfrom the spindle shank portion as a result of relative movement of thespindle shank portion from said aperture along said separation line; astrip removably secured to said connecting portion across saidseparation line for releasably maintaining said separation line againstsaid relative movement of the spindle shank portion therealong requiringa manual release of said maintaining means to permit a subsequent saidrelative movement of the spindle shank portion for removing the packagemeans from the spindle means; and means defining a fingertip graspingportion for effecting a manual removal of said strip to free saidseparation line for said subsequent relative movement.
 4. For use in amerchandising structure having spindle means provided with a shankportion and an enlarged end portion, package means comprising: aproduct-carrying portion; a connecting portion having means defining anaperture, the spindle means shank portion being extended through saidaperture for carrying the package means on the spindle means with thespindle means enlarged end portion preventing withdrawal of the packagemeans from the spindle means by movement of said connecting portionaxially over the spindle end portion; means defining a separation linein said connecting portion extending from one edge thereof to saidaperture for permitting movement of said connecting portion laterallyfrom the spindle shank portion as a result of relative movement of thespindle shank portion from said aperture along said separation line; anda tape adhesively secured to said connecting portion across saidseparation line for releasably maintaining said separation line againstsaid relative movement of the spindle shank portion therealong requiringa manual release of said maintaining means to permit a subsequent saidrelative movement of the spindle shank portion for removing the packagemeans from the spindle means.
 5. For use in a merchandising structurehaving spindle means provided with a shank portion and an enlarged endportion, package means comprising: a product-carrying portion; aconnecting portion having means defining an aperture, the spindle meansshank portion being extended through said aperture for carrying thepackage means on the spindle means with the spindle means enlarged endportion preventing withdrawal of the package means from the spindlemeans by movement of said connecting portion axially over the spindleend portion; means defining a separation line in said connectinG portionextending from one edge thereof to said aperture for permitting movementof said connecting portion laterally from the spindle shank portion as aresult of relative movement of the spindle shank portion from saidaperture along said separation line; and a flexible filamentary elementsecured to said connecting portion across said separation line forreleasably maintaining said separation line against said relativemovement of the spindle shank portion therealong requiring a manualrelease of said maintaining means to permit a subsequent said relativemovement of the spindle shank portion for removing the package meansfrom the spindle means.
 6. The package means of claim 5 furtherincluding a fingertip grasping element secured to one end of saidelement for effecting a manual removal of said strip to free saidseparation line for said subsequent relative movement.
 7. For use in amerchandising structure having spindle means provided with a shankportion and an enlarged end portion, package means comprising: aproduct-carrying portion; a connecting portion having means defining anaperture, the spindle means shank portion being extended through saidaperture for carrying the package means on the spindle means with thespindle means enlarged end portion preventing withdrawal of the packagemeans from the spindle means by movement of said connecting portionaxially over the spindle end portion; means defining a separation linein said connecting portion extending from one edge thereof to saidaperture for permitting movement of said connecting portion laterallyfrom the spindle shank portion as a result of relative movement of thespindle shank portion from said aperture along said separation line; andmeans releasably maintaining said separation line against said relativemovement of the spindle shank portion therealong requiring a manualrelease of said maintaining means to permit a subsequent said relativemovement of the spindle shank portion for removing the package meansfrom the spindle means, said separation line comprising a plurality ofperforations and said means releasably maintaining said separation linecomprising lands extending between said perforations.
 8. The packagemeans of claim 7 wherein said separation line extends from one side edgeof said package means, said relative movement comprising a horizontalmovement.
 9. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle meansprovided with a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and a strip removably secured to said connectingportion across said separation line for releasably maintaining saidseparation line against said relative movement of the spindle shankportion therealong requiring a manual release of said maintaining meansto permit a subsequent said relative movement of the spindle shankportion for removing the package means from the spindle means, saidconnecting portion further defining a separable portion secured to aportion of said strip spaced from said separation line permitting saidseparable portion to be separated from the package means and be utilizedas a finger-tip grasping portion for effecting manual removal of saidstrip to free said separation line for said subsequent relativemovement.
 10. For use in a merchandising structure having spindle meanSprovided with a shank portion and an enlarged end portion, package meanscomprising: a product-carrying portion; a connecting portion havingmeans defining an aperture, the spindle means shank portion beingextended through said aperture for carrying the package means on thespindle means with the spindle means enlarged end portion preventingwithdrawal of the package means from the spindle means by movement ofsaid connecting portion axially over the spindle end portion; meansdefining a separation line in said connecting portion extending from oneedge thereof to said aperture for permitting movement of said connectingportion laterally from the spindle shank portion as a result of relativemovement of the spindle shank portion from said aperture along saidseparation line; and a strip removably secured to said connectingportion across said separation line for releasably maintaining saidseparation line against said relative movement of the spindle shankportion therealong requiring a manual release of said maintaining meansto permit a subsequent said relative movement of the spindle shankportion for removing the package means from the spindle means, saidconnecting portion further defining a separable portion secured to acorner portion of said strip spaced from said separation line permittingsaid separable portion to be separated from the package means and beutilized as a fingertip grasping portion for effecting manual removal ofsaid strip to free said separation line for said subsequent relativemovement.
 11. The package means of claim 1 wherein said enlarged endportion of the spindle means comprises a tip element removably securedto a distal end of said shank means.
 12. The package means of claim 1wherein said separation line extends vertically upwardly from saidaperture.